Middle East

Qatari Emir, Iran's President Discussed Regional Deescalation Efforts
Qatari Emir, Iran's President Discussed Regional Deescalation Efforts

Qatar's emir and the Iranian president discussed regional deescalation efforts in a phone call on Thursday, as Tehran faced off with Washington. "During the call, they also discussed the latest regional and international developments, particularly the current situation and the efforts being made to de-escalate tensions and establish ...

Iran Warns Shipping Ahead of Live-Fire Naval Drills Near Strait of Hormuz
Iran Warns Shipping Ahead of Live-Fire Naval Drills Near Strait of Hormuz

Iran has sent out warnings to passing ships of live-fire naval exercises expected to be conducted next week near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Associated Press. The Strait of Hormuz is a significant bottleneck in global energy supply chains, seeing 20% of global oil shipments, and would be vulnerable in the event of a conflict with ...

World Food Program Terminates All Staff Contracts in Rebel-Held Yemen: UN Official
World Food Program Terminates All Staff Contracts in Rebel-Held Yemen: UN Official

The World Food Programme is ending the contracts of all 365 staff in Houthi-controlled Yemen, a UN official told AFP on Thursday, effectively ending operations in a zone gravely afflicted by hunger. The United Nations agency suspended work in rebel-held areas in late August after the Iran-backed Houthis detained 38 employees in a series of raids, ...

Washington Hosts Saudi and Israeli Officials to Weigh Possible U.S. Strikes on Iran
Washington Hosts Saudi and Israeli Officials to Weigh Possible U.S. Strikes on Iran

The Trump administration is hosting senior defense and intelligence officials from Israel and Saudi Arabia for talks on Iran this week as President Trump considers military strikes, two U.S. officials and two other sources with knowledge told Axios. The Israelis came to D.C. to share intelligence on possible targets inside Iran. Israeli military ...

Iran Army has 1,000 New Drones, Tasnim Reports
Iran Army has 1,000 New Drones, Tasnim Reports

A batch of 1,000 drones was received by the various branches of the Iranian army, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday, amid growing tensions, with the U.S. President Donald Trump warning of an attack if Tehran refuses a nuclear deal. "In accordance with the threats ahead, the army maintains and enhances its strategic ...

Brooklyn Man Sentenced in Iran-Linked Plot to Kill Exiled Journalist
Brooklyn Man Sentenced in Iran-Linked Plot to Kill Exiled Journalist

A Brooklyn man was sentenced on Wednesday to 15 years in prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Masih Alinejad, a prominent Iranian journalist and critic of the Islamic Republic, in a case U.S. authorities say was directed by Iran’s elite military and intelligence apparatus. Carlisle Rivera, 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy ...

Trump Wants to Create Conditions for ‘Regime Change’ in Iran: U.S. Sources
Trump Wants to Create Conditions for ‘Regime Change’ in Iran: U.S. Sources

U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing options against Iran that include targeted strikes on security forces and leaders to inspire protesters and wants to create conditions for “regime change”, multiple U.S. sources familiar with the discussions told The Times of Israel.  To do so, he was looking at options to hit commanders ...

What Are the U.S. Demands for Iran?
What Are the U.S. Demands for Iran?

As a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group “armada” approaches the Gulf and rhetoric intensifies between the Trump administration and Iranian officials, U.S. and European officials outline three demands to Iran, according to a New York Times report on Wednesday. The Nuclear Issue One demand is to reach an agreement on the nuclear issue; ...

Iran Warns of Strong Response as U.S. Pressure Mounts
Iran Warns of Strong Response as U.S. Pressure Mounts

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced that Iran would respond strongly to any U.S. attack on the country on Wednesday in a post on X as the U.S. “armada” arrives in the Gulf. “Our brave armed forces are prepared—with their fingers on the trigger—to immediately and powerfully respond to any ...

Syrian President al-Sharaa Meets Putin as Russia Repositions Military Presence
Syrian President al-Sharaa Meets Putin as Russia Repositions Military Presence

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa traveled to Moscow on Wednesday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the future of the two countries’ relationship. Their meeting is expected to focus on Russia’s military presence in Syria and bilateral economic relations. On Tuesday, Russian troops and military assets were withdrawn from ...